MIAMI, April 25 (UPI) -- Kevin Millar's two-out homer in the seventh inning snapped a tie Thursday night and the Florida Marlins added a key insurance run in the eighth to down the Houston Astros, 5-4.
Millar pulled a fastball over the heart of the plate from Shane Reynolds deep over the left-field fence for a 4-3 lead. Off to a slow start, Millar has upped his average to .257 by going nine for 18 over his last five games.
In the eighth, Luis Castillo scored on Preston Wilson's groundout for a 5-3 Marlins' edge. Castillo, who reached on a fielder's choice, went from first to third on a steal plus catcher Brad Ausmus' throwing error.
A.J. Burnett (3-2) was erratic in the win. The righthander allowed three runs and five hits over seven innings, but walked five while striking out season high-tying nine.
After Braden Looper ran into trouble in the ninth, Vladimir Nunez came on to collect the final out and notch his second save.
